Interurban Trail (South) — Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014

Puget Sound and Islands > Seattle-Tacoma Area

For a rainy day, this urban hike didn't turn out so bad. We parked at the Kent-James St. Park & Ride at James/Lincoln and hiked south. This trail is by far the most urban one we've gone on, with buildings, streets, and railway visible the entire time. The first 1-1.5 miles south from the P&R are in SERIOUS need of a work party cleanup. There was all manner of trash and debris all over the sides of the trail. It was so bad that at one point I thought we might run across a dead body in the bushes. You might want to consider parking at 259th where the Green River Trail confluences the Interurban Trail and go south from there instead. It is still very urban, going through a BNSF train yard, but it is a lot cleaner in this stretch. There are also views of what could almost be considered an estuary with the trail bridging over plants that are a good 8-10+ feet tall. In the BNSF train yard, you'll cross the tracks twice. Be careful crossing as some the locomotives are remote controlled. You may also get stuck on one side waiting for the trains to stop blocking your way back. There is some pretty impressive graffiti on the train cars that you'll see on either side. It isn't what you'd consider a hike per se, but as an urban hike, this stretch south of the Green River Trail Confluence is actually quite a treat.